The first stage of the MLS Re-Entry Draft went quickly Thursday, and it was more active than those in years past.

It came with a bombshell, too, as Portland traded up in the order and selected Sounders FC’s Steve Zakuani with the No. 2 overall pick. He joins his former college coach, Caleb Porter, and one of his best friends, Darlington Nagbe, with the Timbers. So, that will be interesting in the heated rivalry games next year.

Zakuani was an “original” Sounders from the start of the 2009 season, when he was drafted No. 1 overall out of Akron, but a devastating leg injury and related complications has kept him out for most of the past three seasons.

Also, Marc Burch was selected by the Colorado Rapids, meaning two of the five players taken in the first stage Thursday played for Seattle this past season.

In other picks, D.C. United selected Sean Franklin of the Los Angeles Galaxy (first round) and Bobby Boswell of the Houston Dyanmo (second round). Philadelphia took Chicago’s Corben Bone.

I’ll post some tweets after the jump, particularly from Zakuani. What do you make of the events?

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I want to thank @SoundersFC for 5 amazing years. I want to thank the fans, especially the supporter groups, for supporting me since day 1